TV: The Last Ship SE1 (Finale)

The Last Ship
Action, Drama, Sci Fi

I really should be studying but I thought I'd whip out a quick blog post.  *cough* procrastination *cough*

When I first started this, I remember I bagged it out a bit... and I stick by that. Michael Bay (Transformers) is well known for destroying lots of things in big bada booms but maybe he read my blogpost because I think there has only been one explosion since then.

So after I got over the Michael Bay explosions stuff, I was wondering how long they would be able to drag out this story line: there is only so long that an audience will think finding a cure is entertaining. I thought a season, maybe two. Man, was I surprised when they found it so quick! So then I started wondering what would they do next season, especially after they knocked out the Russians... that was the one explosion I was talking about by the way.

I have to say, the last few episodes have had me pleasantly surprised. I quite enjoyed them... nothing too fabulous but entertaining. I am really annoyed at the XO (Adam Baldwin) for giving up the ship so easily... seriously, these guys are trained Navy and they can't disarm one man at close range? They stormed the goddamn Russian vessel to get the Captain (Eric Dane) back and they can't take their own ship back? Come on!

They had the cure and now they've lost Doctor Scott (Rhona Mitra) to the corrupt government who is killing people, and Quincy (Sam Spruell) was shot when the ship was taken, so there goes the cure for now. Tex (John Pyper-Ferguson) has gone walkabout, will he double back to rescue the Doc? I think so. The Captain finally found his family but now he's lost the ship and crew, what will he do by himself? Also, the 'War Lords' led by Titus Welliver (Argo, The Good Wife), good or bad?

Ok, nice set up for the next season.

3 out of 5 quarantine areas...

TV: The Last Ship SE1 EP4

The Last Ship
Action, Drama, Sci Fi

'Murica! This is a Michael Bay (Transformers) show, so we already know that it's America leading the charge to save the world (somehow), complete with awesome explosions and big guns! I've been watching lots of Robot Chicken lately and this skit they did made me laugh so hard!

It's yet another dystopian... This ship has been out in the Arctic for three months with no radio contact with anyone. When they finally try to contact the mainland, there is no response. While they've been away a disease has spread throughout the world killing almost everyone. Lucky for humankind, a scientist was on the ship and she has a way to engineer a cure... eventually.

It's not all that fabulous. Lots of America is the world power and will win the battle kind of stuff. The only couple of actors I recognise are Adam Baldwin (Firefly) and Eric Dane (Grey's Anatomy)... although it took me a while to realise that Rhona Mitra was not Kate Beckinsale though she did star in one of the Underworld films.

It's been a month, they've replenished their food and arms but now the ship is falling apart and they're running out of water... Other than that, not a lot seems to happen and I'm not sure where they will go with this show or if I will actually keep watching it. Also, not as many explosions as I would expect of Michael Bay...

2 out of 5 explosions...

Movie: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

X-Men: Days of Future Past
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

I love X-Men... need I say more? I don't think so but of course I will...

So many awesome characters, so many awesome actors. We got to see everyone we wanted to see, even if the main X-Men we're used to didn't get that much screen time. I'm a little peeved Anna Paquin got cut to a bare 3 seconds at the end of the film but I'm sure we will see more Rogue in the extras when the DVD is released. Shawn Ashmore as Bobby/Iceman, Daniel Cudmore as Collossus, Booboo Stewart as Warpath, Lucas Till as Havok... and I haven't even brought out the big guns yet!

So the story revolves around Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) of course. I have no idea where Kitty (Ellen Page) got the send-someone-back-in-time power from. Did she have that in the comics? I can't remember... But anyway, she sends Logan back because apparently he's the only one who can handle it. Young Xavier, played by the amazing James McAvoy, is in a bit of a slump after Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) left him for Erik/Magnito (Michael Fassbender/Ian McKellen).. oh, yeah, and Erik crippled him... So this film is (mostly) set after the events of First Class. Logan has to pull Xavier out of it with the help of Beast (Nicholas Hoult) in order to save both the mutant and human populations from destroying themselves with giant killer robots called Sentinels (seriously, The Matrix again anyone?) designed by antagonist Dr. Trask (Peter Dinklage). Like giant sentient robots are ever a good idea!

Quicksilver was one of the best things about this film. I remember when the trailer came out some people thought he would be lame.. but no, he is awesome! The small part he plays in the film really stuck in my mind and when I watched it recently for the second time, he was just as good. He's played by Evan Peters from American Horror Story who does a fabulous job. Hope we see more of him in the next films. I also thought the meeting of the two Xavier's was excellent, how cool to meet your future self... and who else would be able to kick young Xavier's ass back into gear but older, wiser Xavier (Patrick Stewart)? Stand out performance was definitely James McAvoy.

I'm a little disappointed that Taylor Kitsch's role of Gambit hasn't reappeared. Gambit was always one of my favourite X-Men and the little teaser we got of him in Origins: Wolverine just wasn't enough for me. I would have thought the timeline would be perfect for him too... Bring back Gambit! Also, the reappearance of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and Cyclops (James Marsden)! I did a little swoon there but we all knew they were both coming back didn't we? Yes, I watched the cartoons as a kid... And you can't have an X-Men film without Storm (Halle Berry).

I love X-Men. Keep 'em coming. Which X-Men is your favourite? Who do you want to see in the next film? Let me know in the comments!

4 out of 5 Marvels...

TV: The Strain SE1 EP1

The Strain
Drama, Horror, Sci Fi

I spoke a little about this in my mass post of upcoming new shows and it's finally here! A friend recommended me the book by director Guillermo del Toro who's dark, spooky style is well known from Pan's Labyrinth. I'm glad I read it before the show came out...at least I was semi prepared for the creepy factor.

It starts with something we've seen in these kind of shows before: a dead airplane. There is a mixture of traditional vampire mythology: the coffin of dirt, being transported over water, what I think is a Master, etc. But it's just a tad different. I might be giving some of it away here but I'm assuming most of you will figure all this out in the first couple of episodes. There are vampires... but they're not the sexy, fang sporting vampires we are used to. These vampires are infected with a parasite and they feed via these really ugly looking stingers. Very cool, very spooky.

I recognised Corey Stoll right away even though with the hair he looks a little different from his House of Cards role. Mia Maestro (Alias, Twilight: Breaking Dawn) was also hard to miss, she's showing up everywhere lately. They play the two leading CDC investigators who got more than they planned for with the dead airplane. David Bradley (Filch from Harry Potter) plays a kooky old dude who's apparently dealt with these monsters before.

The first episode has not disappointed so far: it's sufficiently spooky and mysterious. Even having read the book I'm still interested in watching the show, which is a good sign. It's set to get even creepier so give it a go and let me know what you think.

4 out of 5 parasites...

Movie: Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Edge of Tomorrow
Action, Sci Fi

Bloody Tom Cruise (Top Gun, Mission: Impossible)... Sometimes I wish he would retire, he creeps me out just a little bit. He's so tiny and old and he's still making these same movies over and over again... they've gotten more of a sci fi twist lately as well. I have to admit the movies he stars in are never crap but I'm always a little discouraged at him being the action male lead. It's probably just me...

Aliens have invaded and caused Groundhog Day... that's what I got from the preview anyway... This is the second film that I've watched lately that has aliens or machines that rip off the sentinels from The Matrix. Have the alien development departments not got any imagination anymore?

Also starring Bill Paxton (Agents of SHIELD, Twister), Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter, Braveheart) and Emily Blunt (Devil Wears Prada, Looper), Edge of Tomorrow is very much like every other sci fi / action film you've ever seen starring Tom Cruise.

That is all.

3 out of 5 sentinels...

Movie: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Action, Adventure, Sci Fi

I am joining the masses in swooning over Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook, Winter's Bone) - she is amazing, though I'm more impressed with how she handles herself in the spotlight. She is a proper role model for young girls. This isn't her best film by a long way but I have to applaud her for making me more sympathetic to Katniss.

When I read these books (by Suzanne Collins) Katniss annoyed the absolute hell out of me. She is even more complacent than Bella (Twilight). She seems to achieve things but really it's more the people around her helping her. You don't get any of her internal monologue in the films - thank goodness - because she spends most of the time completely oblivious to the things going on around her. I felt like slapping her sometimes. JLaw seems to bring a bit more confidence to the character, which I like.

The two love interests - yes, I said two - are Peeta (Josh Hutcherson - Red Dawn, Bridge To Terabithia) the baker's boy who's always had a thing for Katniss and fellow Hunger Games winner, and Gale (Aussie Liam Hemsworth - Neighbours, Paranoia) Katniss' best friend and hunting partner. Unfortunately for Katniss and Gale, in order to win the Hunger Games Katniss and Peeta had to pretend to be madly in love. This is where the books annoyed me; it's damn obvious to us that Peeta actually has real feelings for Katniss but she is so absorbed in her own self and not being able to have Gale that she completely disregards Peeta. Ugh! There is a little of this in the film but it's not nearly as blatant as in the books.

Stand out performances for me were Effie Trinket played by Elizabeth Banks (Zack and Miri Make a Porno, 30 Rock) and her amazing outfits! Donald Sutherland (Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie, MASH) as the nefarious President Snow. Lenny Kravitz as Cinna (sobs). Stanley Tucci (Burlesque, Captain America) as the very bronzed Caesar. Philip Seymour Hoffman (Moneyball, Almost Famous) as the new game maker, Plutarch Heavensbee. Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, Natural Born Killers) as drunken Haymitch. And finally, Sam Claflin (Snow White and The Huntsman) as Finnick Odair.

This film was much better than the first and I'm sure the next one will be even better! That's the way it was with the books too, it's got a really nice build up and by the end the whole game has changed. I can't think of anything from the books that I missed in the film. The arena was just as I imagined it from the Lightning Tree to the Tsunami. Well done!

Next film we get to see The Mockingjay in action! Can't wait!

4 out of 5 crazy false eyelashes...

TV: The Tomorrow People SE1 EP5

The Tomorrow People
Drama, Sci Fi

Now that's more like it! Maybe Marvel should be taking lessons from Julie Plec (writer/producer of The Vampire Diaries, The Originals). This show very much reminds me of Dark Angel (again) mixed with a little bit of Nikita.

It's the story of the next evolution of humans; Homo Superior... Yes, terrible name and they admit to that a few times in the show itself. I also have a little trouble with them referring to them as not human and a different species... if I found out I had a mutated gene, I wouldn't be suddenly inferring I'm of a different species. I don't think I would be comfortable with that. Also, in making that claim it can semi-justify violence against them, because they're not human. I don't like it...

Teleporting...

Anyway, there is an underground group of these super humans who can teleport, have telekinesis and can read minds. The CGI on the teleporting is actually pretty cool; it's a little Stargate-y or Jumper-ish, they kinda suck into themselves. Plus these guys can fight! The fight scenes in this show are so much more impressive than Agents of SHIELD... though I've always wondered how guys manage to pull off an awesome roundhouse kick in a those tight jeans... mmm...

Story revolves around Steven (Robbie Amell from Revenge) who is the prodigy son of the savior... or something like that anyway. He has more than just the three powers mentioned above but he's still trying to work out how to use them. While trying to find his every elusive father he gets tangled up in his evil uncle Jedikiah's (Mark Pellegrino most recently from Revolution and Being Human but I know him from his role as Lucifer in Supernatural) plans to eradicate his species. Steven works for his uncle while also helping his underground friends John (Luke Mitchell, who is an Aussie!) and Cara (Peyton List from Mad Men). Honorable mentions go to Sarah Clarke (Twilight, 24) as Steven's mother and Jason Dohring (Veronica Mars, Ringer) as the diabolical Killian McCrane.

Not a bad show, I think I'll keep watching it just for Mark Pellegrino who plays such an awesome bad guy. Let's see how the rest of the season plays out eh?

3 out of 5 Stargates...

PS. Yes, I know I've been posting a lot of mediocre shows, but I like putting up different shows rather than reviewing the same ones every week and all the new shows are a bit meh so far... like I said though, we shall see how the season plays out. We might be pleasantly surprised with some of them. 

TV: Agents of SHIELD SE1 EP6

Agents of SHIELD
Action, Drama, Sci Fi

I'm hearing along the grapevine (aka the internet) that I am not the only one disappointed in this show. They made this huge deal about it; this great new sci fi spin off of The Avengers. Sounds good on paper, what could go wrong? You would think with the combined genius of Joss Whedon (Buffy, The Cabin In The Woods) and his brother Jed Whedon (Dollhouse) together with the amazing world of Marvel with access to god knows how many actual superheroes would give us a freaking awesome show!... but no, not quite. The potential is there but it seems like they're falling short.

I was excited to see Cobie Smulders in the first ep, but not too excited because I had heard she wasn't a permanent fixture to the show. Maybe she will join after How I Met Your Mother finishes later this year? Then there was that two minute cameo by Samuel L Jackson (Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction) which was pretty cool. On the superhero side of things there was J. August Richards (Angel) with his climbing/jumping stuff (woo) and then Scorch (Louis Ozawa Changchien). Now we have Asgardian artifacts which has potential too...

Even with all this potential and the occasional minor super power, Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his pretty stereotypical team seem to be just another glorified black ops group. Even though they keep mentioning the portal opening in New York and gods, aliens and people with powers, they just don't seem to play a major role in the show. I was kind of hoping for a Dark Angel or Dollhouse kind of thing. There is the mystery surrounding Coulson's death... 

I will give it a season and see how it plays out, but honestly, I expected more... is it just because I haven't read any of the comics?

2 out of 5 crappy superheroes...

Movie: Diary of The Dead (2007)

Diary of The Dead (2007)
Horror, Sci-Fi

This isn't mentioned on Simon Pegg's blogpost about zombies but I think it's one of the best zombie movies to come out recently, as far as your typical zombies go... But it was written and directed by George A. Romero so I thought it would be interesting to see his progression from the last film released in 1968 until this one forty years later.

These are the slow moving but quickly accumulating undead. It's filmed ala Blair Witch with a bit of a documentary feel which means it can get a bit chatty at times. It's raw but some of those shots are brilliant. There are also some of the best deaths I've seen. The Amish guy with the scythe? Jar of acid over the head? Electric paddles to the head...almost.

I liked the online presence. If there really was a zombie apocalypse then we would hear about it first via Twitter. #ZombieApocalypse  As soon as I started to wonder how they still had wifi and internet connections, it dropped out...

Even though the only person I recognized was Joe Dinicol (LA Complex) and it ended fairly suddenly and inconclusively, I liked this one a lot.

4 out of 5 Pegg plugs...